Zhdanov’s victory in the men’s 150 metres individual medley SM4 in 2 min 22.38sec started a Russian gold rush in Madeira.

Silver went to Ami Omer Dadaon of Israel in 2:31.65, with bronze going to Italy’s Efrem Morelli in 2:46.42.

Zhdanov’s victory started an evening of Russian success on the island, with the country’s next victory coming in the women’s 150m individual medley SM4 courtesy of Nataliia Butkova in 3:06.19.

In the women’s 50m freestyle S12 Daria Pikalova claimed Russia’s third gold of the night as she finished in 27.46sec.

Midway through a busy programme featuring 24 finals, Russia won golds in three straight races - with victories for Egor Efrosinin in the men’s 100m breaststroke SB7 in 1:18.20, Mariia Pavlova in the women’s 100m breaststroke SB7 in 1:34.95 and Andrei Granichka in the men’s 200m individual medley SM6 in 2:43.11.

A second world record also fell in the women's 50m butterfly S5 final with victory going to Marta Fernandez Infante of Spain in 43.22 sec.

The silver medal in this race went to Sevilay Ozturk of Turkey in 45.89 with the bronze medal going to Giulia Ghiretti in 47.80.

Italy claimed four gold medals, in the mixed 4x50m freestyle 20 point relay in 2:22.99, and in the women’s 100m freestyle S13 courtesy of Carlotta Gilli in 58.63, in the men’s 100m butterfly S9 courtesy of Simone Barlaam in 59.28 and in the night’s opening final, the men’s 100m backstroke S1 thanks to Francesco Bettella in 2:32.21.

Ukraine also claimed four golds, courtesy of Yana Berezhna in the women’s 100m breaststroke in 1:29.76, Maksym Krypak of Ukraine in the men’s 400m freestyle S10 in 4:02.64, Yelyzav Mereshko in the women’s 200m individual medley SM6 in 2:59.96 and Ilia Yaremenko in the men’s 50m freestyle S12 in 23.89.

Gold medals also went to swimmers from Greece, Belarus, Lithuania, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Brazil and Chile.